Tagged: Vintage
J’adore..
If I was a trust fund babe, this would be my luggage of choice.
Made in America by Steamline, they’re the perfect marriage of the elegance of yesteryear and the practicalities of modern performance: Handcrafted in leather and brass they swear to be lightweight and durable.
In the past, Louis Vuitton held the aspirational luggage high ground – but it’s now so tinged with the fake tans of tv reality star wannabees that to say your luggage is LV is like announcing to the world that your coat is fur and your knickers are missing.
After years of broken zips, plastic and making do, maybe it’s time for a change…these are certainly on the list of lust.
Laters, Kate x
Bees Knees x
In my virtual world, this is what I look like today.
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(All pictures Pinterest)
Proving that old is always new….which gives me endless hope!
Laters, Kate x
Transforming teatowels..
Thank you to Kerry for my fabulous vintage tea towel, as model by Bella in our temporary kitchen!
I won my teatowel by getting the nearest guess to how many of these Kerry had made in a jar. She’s making 3,000 of them to turn into a bedspread…she’s that kinda gal – articulate, dextrous, imaginative..and can just make the most beautiful things, from hand woven blankets to mouth watering chocolates..and she also runs her own Etsy shop selling vintage linens. She truly is one in a million…if you click on the link now, there’s even a recipe for toffee which I can guarantee to be utterly delicious.
We’ll be turning these (an extra thank you!) into decorations for our first fake Christmas tree EVER. It’s in the garden right now…but when the builders leave us, it’s coming in, if only for a few days. And covered with all things home made.
As for the tea towel..I’m almost loathed the use it. It’s in such glorious shape/colour/nick, I feel, it’s like a much loved sheep dog or dog for the blind, that after a hard, fulfilling life it needs a good retirement. I’m tempted to turn it into a cushion, a bit like Julie from VintageAttitude did for me with my Grandmother’s tea cosy..(and yes..it will be complete with pom poms Dievca!) I can just see it as an elegant, refined bolster on our bed.
The two cushions I bought from Julie also started life as tea towels…
Food for thought hey…
Laters, Kate x
Paper Bag Pants..
Sometimes you need something in your wardrobe with a little bit of rock ‘n’ roll on the dashboard.
How about a pair of tie-up trousers? A real shout from the eighties when they were attractively called paper bag trousers…
There’s something about them..cut short..
Or with a big belt..
(All pics from Pinterest)
You can feel the force. Throw up or throw back, does this mean high wasiters are really coming back?
Laters, Kate x
Golden glow x
Planning the winter wardrobe.
(All pictures from Pinterest)
I think it has to be something subtle..
Laters, Kate x
Patullo-Jo Copeland x
This wasn’t the post for today..but there’s a gremlin in my computer that won’t allow me to upload new photos – one of the burdens of working by yourself is there’s no IT department to demand help from. The internet is also proving cranky..there’s a storm brewing outside and I’ve noticed when the air gets thick, so does the wi-fi. And it was a Bank holiday in the UK yesterday so everything’s a bit upside down..Charlie’s school bag never made it into school and I’m convinced today is Monday…which I’ll probably be grateful for when Friday comes..
These are photos of the work of designer Jo Copeland, working under the label of Pattullo-Jo Copeland. She worked in New York from the 1916 all the way through the major fashion decades till she closed her label in 1970 and for me, is one of fashions forgotten heroines.
She had an impeccable eye for detail and effortlessly understood the female form, knowing exactly what to exaggerate..and what to skim. These shoulders are a sculptural delight..
and make that waist look tiny.
She proves that good design stands the test of time even when the fickle finger of fame passes on..
Laters, Kate x
Badge of Honour..
When something is highlighted as a major trend is it already too late to embrace it as true fashion condemned a follower rather than an adventurer?..
Does the fact something is popular reduce it currency, making it smaller, grubbier..repetitive?
Can it become overused..or liberated?
With stripes there’s a reason it nags away at you, an appeal, an intrinsic quality passed down through nature and the centuries..
Like it?
Then take it and turn it into a world a possibilities with courageous style.
(All photos from Pinterest)
Because there’s always room to negotiate a different way…
Laters, Kate x
Flying fur..
It’s a sign of the times when fur both becomes common place and mixed with casual fashion..camo trousers and casual fur jacket: an unexpected marriage made in heaven, worn here by the iconic Jenna Lyons.
But I’m curious: Why the turn fur acceptance turn-around? Is it because faux fur is so good we can’t spot the difference, giving free-reign to choosing the real stuff? Or maybe all these photos are of Jenna in fake. But I don’t think so…
Is it that fur has moved with the political times and is now a tightly controlled industry where cruelty has been banished? Or is there a leniency to vintage fur under the heading ‘eco-friendly’ in a wasteful planet? I just don’t know..
All I do know, is fabulous as Jenna looks, this outfit would’ve caused an outrage even ten years ago…so why not now?
Laters, Kate x
Bags of Style x
My lovely old battered Mulberry bag holds a very special corner of my heart……quality, practicality and just gets better and better with age, like the best things should. Inspired, I now have my eye on the Messenger bag……a decidedly cool classic……
Laters, Kate x
Packing..
I hate packing with a passion..but at least in summer the clothes are the easy bit…all I take are vintage cotton dresses..
As a change this year – yep, I always wear the same ones..I’ve added an edge of neon pink pom poms..
I have all sorts from all different countries..this is one of my mexican numbers..and yes, if didn’t escape the pom poms either..they’re breeding and rather addictive..
My white broiderie anglais kaftan..excellent for wafting in with a trilby and a cocktail..
This is an African number – comes with a full length wrap skirt in the same material. A girl has to have a bit of bling..
My cheesecloth peasant dress with embroidered butterflies..guaranteed never to meet someone wearing the same..
Another Mexican..they’re rather fab and very easy to wear..
The only two exceptions to the rule are my vintage jumpsuits..dress up, dress down they can take me to any occasion..
This one was originally 80’s purple, but it got a dose of brown dye and now it’s a wonderful burnt aubergine colour. It’s silk so does crease, but it’s worth it with a pair of gold sandals..
But I still hate packing..
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 